Licence vs. License: What's the Difference?
Learn when licence is a British noun and license is a verb, plus the simpler American spelling rule, with examples, a quiz, and FAQs.
In American English, license is the standard spelling for both the noun and the verb. In British English, licence is the noun, while license is the verb. Choose the pattern that matches your audience, and preserve the spelling used in official document names.
Working with a longer passage? Use our free AI text summarizer to turn it into a focused overview, then return here to check the wording.
A UK help page tells customers to renew a software “license,” then asks whether the company is “licenced” to operate. Under British spelling rules, the noun should be licence and the verb form should be licensed.
Licence vs. License at a glance
| Word | Typical role | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| licence | Noun in British English | official permission or a document granting permission | The restaurant renewed its premises licence in May. |
| license | Noun or verb, depending on region | permission; or to authorize officially | The agency licenses childcare providers each year. |
How to use licence
Licence is the usual British noun for legal permission, a permit, or the document that records it. The same noun spelling is also common in several other varieties of English. It does not normally function as the verb.
The restaurant renewed its premises licence in May.
How to use license
License is the verb in both American and British English. American English also uses license as the noun, so a US document can use one spelling in driver's license, license the software, and licensed operator.
The agency licenses childcare providers each year.
Rules that make the choice easier
Use license for every American context
For a US audience, use license as both noun and verb: a license, to license, licensed, and licensing.
Separate the British noun and verb
For a UK audience, write a licence for the noun but license for the verb. Licensed and licensing keep the s because they come from the verb.
Follow official wording
Government documents, product agreements, and organizations may have fixed titles. Reproduce an official title exactly even when the surrounding text follows another regional style.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not write licenced; the verb forms are licensed and licensing.
- Do not mix British licence with American noun spellings elsewhere in the same editorial voice.
- Do not silently change the spelling inside the official name of a permit or agreement.
Quick practice
1. Which noun spelling is standard in American English?
Answer: license
2. Which noun spelling is standard in British English?
Answer: licence
3. The authority will ___ the new operator.
Answer: license
Frequently asked questions
Is it licence or license in American English?
American English uses license for both the noun and the verb.
Is it licence or license in British English?
British English uses licence as the noun and license as the verb.
Is licensed spelled with a c or an s?
Licensed is always spelled with an s because it is formed from the verb license.
Is it driving licence or driver's license?
Driving licence is standard UK wording; driver's license is standard US wording.